Krishnan Guru-Murthy brought Channel 4's evening news coverage to an abrupt end on Wednesday night when he rushed off camera, tearing off his microphone and earpiece, to catch England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina. The 56-year-old broadcaster, who has been with Channel 4 since 1998 and is the second-longest-serving presenter after Jon Snow, typically signs off in a professional manner. However, on this occasion, he smirked and said, 'That's it for this evening. We're back at 7 tomorrow night. Until then, gotta go – bye!' before quickly exiting as the closing music played.
Viewers React to the Swift Exit
The unexpected departure amused viewers, with @jonoread posting on X, 'When you've gotta go, you've gotta go,' sharing the clip. The user then revealed the reason for Guru-Murthy's haste: 'To be fair he was rushing off for the football…!' @joshuanesbit replied, 'Valid.' The clip quickly gained traction online, with many finding the moment relatable.
England's World Cup Heartbreak
England's semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta started promisingly, with the Three Lions taking a 1-0 lead. However, they ultimately lost 2-1, ending their hopes of tournament glory. Manager Thomas Tuchel faced criticism but hit back, citing a weakness in English football 'DNA' as the reason for the loss. 'In this moment, my feeling was no structure in the world could have helped us,' Tuchel said. 'I think ball possession plays a crucial role; it's maybe not in our DNA like it is in our Spanish DNA or in our Argentinian-Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball.'
Record-Breaking Viewership
A peak audience of 24 million watched the match, making it the most-watched live television moment of the year across all broadcasters. It was also the biggest live TV audience for a broadcaster since the Euro 2020 final between Italy and England. The numbers are expected to be high again for the final on Sunday, when Argentina faces Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium, kicking off at 8pm BST after a closing ceremony at 6.30pm BST.
Extended Halftime Show for the Final
In a break from tradition, the World Cup final's halftime slot will be extended to 25 minutes to accommodate a Super Bowl-style performance. Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS will co-headline the historic set, curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay. The halftime show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, aiming to raise $100 million (£74.3 million) to provide children with better access to education and football opportunities.
England's Bronze Medal Chance
Despite the semi-final defeat, England can still secure a podium finish if they beat France in Saturday's bronze medal match. The tournament has provided memorable moments beyond the pitch, including Victoria Beckham's seemingly bored facial expressions in the quarter-final, Emma Hayes hitting back at accusations of 'sexism' on ITV, Gary Lineker's dig at the BBC following his Match of the Day departure, and pundit Alexi Lalas stunning co-hosts by calling James Corden a 'full kit w***er'.
